Graphic novel style Sussex scenes go on show

STUNNING artwork by artist Steve Carroll has gone on show at Littlehampton Museum.
Steve Carroll with his art exhibition at Littlehampton Museum. Picture: Derek Martin DM1611061aSteve Carroll with his art exhibition at Littlehampton Museum. Picture: Derek Martin DM1611061a
Steve Carroll with his art exhibition at Littlehampton Museum. Picture: Derek Martin DM1611061a

From Sussex With Love demonstrates his idiosyncratic take on the landmarks of Sussex and beyond.

Steve, of Melbourne Road, Goring, describes his work as ‘images from comics that haven’t been written’.

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Alongside his prints, he is displaying a selection of his sketchbooks to demonstrate how he turns his drawings into digital masterpieces.

From Sussex With Love opened in the Hearne Gallery at the Church Street museum on January 9 and runs until Friday, March 4.

Curator Kathleen Lawther said: “Steve, who previously exhibited at the museum in 2014, has continued to refine his style, which is inspired by the artwork of graphic novels.

“Most of the works are produced in the form of digital prints using state-of-the-art technology but there are also screen prints and lino cuts, as well as a wealth of supporting work in the form of photographic reference, drawings and watercolours on display.

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“A new source of inspiration has been the town of Arundel, where he has been inspired to create new pieces depicting both Spark’s Yard and the market.

“He has also been busy creating new images of Littlehampton, including the famous East Beach Café.”

Similarly to his last exhibition, Steve has also created a selection of work based on his last visit to India, to capture the gritty atmosphere of the streets in Kolkata and the people there.

Proceeds from the sales of these pieces will go toward helping the education of street children in Kolkata.

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Dr James Walsh, chairman of Littlehampton Town Council’s community resources committee, said: “Once again, Steve’s work manages to bring a dash of colour to the cold winter months. I urge everybody to visit and enjoy the vibrancy of the work on display.”

Steve graduated from Berkshire College of Art and Design in 1982 and has been working as a commercial artist ever since.

He said: “My first love was painting but I have worked all my life as a graphic designer, first for the IT sector but more recently for the third sector. These images of Sussex are a combination of all my interests and people seem to like them.

“In 2004, I started to create images of Worthing in a style based on the kind of art found in graphic novels. These became very popular and I decided to create a selection of images of Sussex that were important to me.”

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His work is usually based on a selection of photographs and drawn first in pencil then with Indian Ink and brush.

This is then scanned on to the Mac and coloured in Adobe Photoshop. Sometimes, he draws over images using Adobe Illustrator, then finishes them off in Photoshop.

Meanwhile, in the Community Gallery, The Age of Sail exhibition celebrates the history of Littlehampton Harbour, a hive of activity for almost 200 years.

On display are a selection of items from the museum’s archives, including a number of paintings of the harbour and its many inhabitants, all taken from the museum’s collection of fine art.

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The exhibition opened last Wednesday and runs until Friday, March 4.

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